logo

31 pages 1 hour read

David Hume

An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1748

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Background

Historical Context: The Scottish Enlightenment and the Onset of Materialism

At the time that Hume was writing, the intellectual world had been in upheaval for some time. Political and philosophical commitments were shifting rapidly. The works of the mathematician, philosopher, and metaphysician René Descartes had been circulating for the better part of half a century. The Enlightenment, which prevailed in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries, was in full swing. The Enlightenment centered around the elevation of reason over faith and superstition. The Scottish Enlightenment, of which Hume is considered a founding personage, was centered largely in Edinburgh where Hume lived and worked. It entailed the rapid development of and investigation into new sciences and fields of knowledge. Hume based a large part of his philosophical system on the emerging consensus in parts of academia that all phenomena have purely material causes.

In Scotland—where Hume lived—the Enlightenment movement disagreed with many tenets of Scottish Presbyterianism and Calvinism. This in large part inspired Hume’s concern with miracles and the question of God in relation to human action and morals. It explains why his work and reputation were considered to be outside the mainstream at the start of his career.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 31 pages of this Study Guide
Plus, gain access to 8,500+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools